Ford releases electric vehicle handling recommendations

April 18, 2012—Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday released the recommended handling and storage procedures for its electric and hybrid-electric vehicles that are equipped with high-voltage batteries.

Ford’s recommended electric vehicle procedures include proper shutdown processes, how to disable the high-voltage system, how to safely transport the vehicle, and best practices for storage. The company also released information for drivers regarding how to safely handle their electric vehicles during and after a collision.

Ford highlighted the following concerns regarding lithium-ion batteries when electric vehicles are involved in serious collisions:

Larry Coan, damageability product concern engineer for Ford’s service engineering operations, said the 2012 Ford Focus BEV will soon be available for consumer purchase. “We wanted to make the industry aware of some high-voltage battery handling instructions in the event that a vehicle is involved in a significant collision with the possibility of damage to the battery.”